Sections

University Statements

Mission Statement

Brandeis University is a community of scholars and students united by their commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and its transmission from generation to generation. As a research university, Brandeis is dedicated to the advancement of the humanities, arts and social, natural and physical sciences. As a liberal arts college, Brandeis affirms the importance of a broad and critical education in enriching the lives of students and preparing them for full participation in a changing society, capable of promoting their own welfare, yet remaining deeply concerned about the welfare of others.

In a world of challenging social and technological transformation, Brandeis remains a center of open inquiry and teaching, cherishing its independence from any doctrine or government. It strives to reflect the heterogeneity of the United States and of the world community whose ideas and concerns it shares. In the belief that the most important learning derives from the personal encounter and joint work of teacher and student, Brandeis encourages undergraduates and postgraduates to participate with distinguished faculty in research, scholarship and artistic activities.

Brandeis was founded in 1948 as a nonsectarian university under the sponsorship of the American Jewish community to embody its highest ethical and cultural values and to express its gratitude to the United States through the traditional Jewish commitment to education. By being a nonsectarian university that welcomes students, teachers and staff of every nationality, religion and political orientation, Brandeis renews the American heritage of cultural diversity, equal access to opportunity and freedom of expression.

The university that carries the name of the justice who stood for the rights of individuals must be distinguished by academic excellence, by truth pursued wherever it may lead and by awareness of the power and responsibilities that come with knowledge.

As adopted at the meeting of the Board of Trustees, Dec. 6, 1984.

Accreditation Statement

Brandeis University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) a voluntary membership organization of public and independent schools and colleges. NEASC is recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation of colleges and universities is performed by NEASC's Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE).

Accreditation is based on Standards for Accreditation, established by CIHE, which encompass all academic and administrative dimensions of the institution. A decision on re-accreditation is preceded by a comprehensive institutional self-study and a multi-day site visit by a visiting team appointed by CIHE. Re-accreditation is required every ten years. Institutions must also submit an interim report, providing a current overview, five years after its most recent re-accreditation. An annual report must also be submitted, providing current data as well as information on new developments relevant to accreditation. Additional information about accreditation, including documentation of Brandeis University's most recent re-accreditation as well as its subsequent fifth-year interim report, can be found on the Brandeis website at www.brandeis.edu/neasc. For additional inquiries about accreditation, contact the Office of the Provost at Brandeis University, Mailstop 134, 415 South St, Waltham, MA 02453-2728, or by email at provost@brandeis.edu. Information is also available on the website of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges at http://cihe.neasc.org Individuals may also contact the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education at 209 Burlington Road, Bedford, MA 01730-1433 or by phone at 781-271-0022.

Diversity Statement

Established in 1948 as a model of ethnic and religious pluralism, Brandeis University:

considers social justice central to its mission as a nonsectarian university founded by members of the American Jewish community;

aims to engage members of our community as active citizens in a multicultural world;

seeks to build an academic community whose members have diverse cultures, backgrounds, and life experiences;

believes that diverse backgrounds and ideas are crucial to academic excellence;

recognizes the need to analyze and address the ways in which social, cultural, and economic inequalities affect power and privilege in the larger society and at Brandeis itself;

honors freedom of expression and civility of discourse as fundamental educational cornerstones;

seeks to safeguard the safety, dignity, and well-being of all its members;

endeavors to foster a just and inclusive campus culture that embraces the diversity of the larger society

Academic Coursework and Religious Observance

Brandeis is a non-sectarian university that embraces students of a wide diversity of religious traditions.

It is the policy of the University that instructors strive to facilitate students' religious observance by allowing absence from classes for such purposes, by trying to ensure that no examinations, written or oral reports, or other mandatory class assignments are scheduled for or due on such religious holidays by providing ample opportunities for such students to make up work missed on such occasions, without penalty.

The following is a list of guidelines developed by the Committee for the Support of Teaching, with the input of the Office of the Chaplaincy, regarding academic coursework and religious observances.

In constructing the academic calendar, religious holy days will not be the sole factor in determining days on which classes will be held or suspended.

In the academic calendar there are some religious holidays when classes are not in session (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Good Friday); however, there are many other days of importance to the religious community (e.g., Eid) when classes are held.

Jewish holidays begin at sundown of the previous evening and end at nightfall of the day listed. Therefore, a student may have a legitimate reason for missing a class, whether or not the holiday is formally recognized in the University calendar.

Students should review their syllabus at the beginning of each term to determine if there are any conflicts between class time and religious observance. It is the student's responsibility to inform the instructor of these conflicts within the first two weeks of the semester.

Students who miss class will be required to complete any work that is missed, and they may be required to submit additional assignments to make up for the missed class time.

Should a student need to miss class for religious reasons, the absence should be excused. Missing a class due to travel plans associated with a particular holiday does not constitute an excused absence.

If a faculty member wishes to schedule an exam or work due on the day immediately following a religious holiday, this assignment should be listed in the syllabus or be given two weeks in advance of the due date.

If an instructor believes that a student's request is not one that can be accommodated, he or she should promptly notify the student in writing or by email.

If the student feels that a reasonable accommodation is being denied, he or she should discuss the issue with the relevant department chair or program chair.

If an instructor has questions about the nature of a particular holiday or would like a list of major holidays, he or she should consult either the Office of the Chaplaincy or the Office of Academic Services.

University Learning Goals

Brandeis Education: Learning in Service of Justice

A Brandeis education combines core skills, knowledge and social justice. Brandeis recognizes that learning occurs in and outside the classroom and designs its programs to enable students to meet these learning goals. Inspired by our namesake, Justice Louis Brandeis, the University seeks to produce graduates who have a desire to inquire and learn throughout their lives and who will endeavor to advance justice in the world.

Core Skills

Master communication skills.
Specifically, graduates should be able to express clearly facts, ideas, opinions and beliefs in a variety of written and oral formats.

Master quantitative skills.
Specifically, graduates should be able to: